Americans Abroad: Weekend Preview

Repeating as champions is never an easy task, but Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht are making it look like it is.

Kljestan and red-hot Anderlecht are currently in first place in the Jupiler Pro League and they can add to their healthy eight-point lead when they visit Club Brugge on Sunday. Anderlecht have not tasted defeat in any competition since a UEFA Champions League loss to AC Milan in late November, so you can expect the steady Kljestan – who was recently handed a suspension in the Belgian Cup – to resume his role in midfield as the Belgian champs try to extend their unbeaten streak to 17 games.

Another consistent performer who many fans will be keeping tabs on is Jozy Altidore. The U.S. Men’s National Team striker upped his season total to 21 goals across all competitions this past weekend, and he will want to add to that as AZ Alkmaar attempts to jump back into the top half of the Eredivisie when they host NAC Breda on Sunday.

The top American vs. American match-up in Europe this weekend will take place in Germany, where Michael Parkhurst and Augsburg face off against Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and Hoffenheim. With Parkhurst likely starting at right back for Augsburg and Johnson at left back for Hoffenheim, the U.S. teammates should see plenty of each other in a match with relegation implications.

Wondering what other match holds some intrigue? Look no further than Club Tijuana’s Saturday clash with Atlante. Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo and the rest of the Xolos are coming off a big Copa Libertadores win on Tuesday, but they will need to fight off any lingering jetlag if they are to overcome an Atlante side that has not lost in its last three games.

Here is who the Americans Abroad play this weekend:

FRIDAY

Joe Gyau and St Pauli play FSV Frankfurt.

Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Sporting Lisbon.

Maurice Edu and Bursaspor play Gaziantepspor.

Herculez Gomez, Hector Joya and Santos Laguna play Ventura Alvarado and Club America.

SATURDAY

Geoff Cameron, Brek Shea and Stoke City play Fulham.

Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play Arsenal.

Tim Howard and Everton play Norwich City.

Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Blackpool.

Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Hull City.

Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Peterborough United. (Packwood is out injured.)

I’m in London for a couple of weeks and sprung for tix to Tottenham v. West Ham and the Fulham v. Stoke match. Anyone else from here going and want to meet up for a drink before, during or after the games?

The games I think are the most important for a USMNT fan to see are:
The Bolton game to see if Holden gets PT
Bursaspor because with a win. They would jump higher into fighting for an Europa spot or a Champions League spot.
Aston Villa vs Arsenal because Lichaj and Guzan might just shock Arsenal which would put Wenger on the hot seat.
Stoke City vs Fulham hope Shea also gets to play.
Finally I think people should try to watch Bobby Wood’s game. I have watched most of his games this year and he is playing very well.

I have watched big chunks of the Bursaspor games recently and gotta say that Edu has looked solid as a Number Six d-mid. His touch and his passing have improved dramatically since last year. I imagine a lot of that is due to his training last autumn at Stoke. And Bursaspor is fun to watch, play attacking soccer with some very good wingers and forwards and Edu seems to be well accepted by his teammates. I can well imagine that Edu can improve even more in coming months starting and playing 90m per game in that atmosphere, possibly improving enough to become a USMNT starter. But if not a starter, he can still play an important role as a key sub. I think he will be in Brazil in the summer of 2014.

I have always found the Süper Lig interesting to watch. It is one of my favorite leagues and now that Edu plays there, I actually have a team to cheer for since Altidore and Adu.
I hope Bursaspor has a buy option or they get him over the summer from Stoke City.